FEATURES
6A
His parents don’t approve
Dear Annie: Our eldest son is
getting married in three weeks to a
gal who is 13½ years younger (23).
She has never been married but has a
4-year-old. She also has bipolar dis-
order and has left him at least three
times. The most recent time was
in March. She took off with a co-
worker for the coast, halfway across
the country. After a couple of weeks,
she decided to call our son, and he
said he wanted her to come back. I
believe that the guy ditched her and
she didn’t have anywhere to go.
Long story short, she is now preg-
nant, and her parents are wanting her
to marry. As far as our son knows, the
baby is his. We all feel that she will
continually leave, and we have doubts
that the baby is his. Our son was mar-
ried before and has two children. He
asked the eldest, who is 12, to be his
best man, but his son said no, as he
does not like her. No one on his side
likes the gal, and we are wondering
whether we need to attend the wed-
ding. My husband says we shouldn’t
because it would show support. I told
our son we would go but are not in
support of the marriage.
I feel we should attend only be-
cause he is our son. It is a tiny wedding
and has been quickly put together. Her
parents are doing a barbecue for the re-
ception, but we will not attend that. Our
Dear Annie
By
Annie
Lane
Creators
Syndicate
Inc.
son is a very kindhearted person who
helps out everyone. His irst wife was
from another country and was not good
to him. Should we go or stay home? —
Reluctant Mother of the Groom
Dear Reluctant: Go to your son’s
wedding. It’s a regrettable situation,
to be sure, but you’d regret it much
more if you were not to be there for
him. He’s a kindhearted and emo-
tionally vulnerable person, suscepti-
ble to other people’s manipulations.
As much as you want to express your
opposition to his life, if you were not
to be around, he’d feel isolated and
only fall further into this trap. Keep
the door open for him. It’s possible to
support him without supporting the
partnership. He needs you.
Dear Annie: A very close friend
has a daughter who got married quickly
because of a pregnancy. She and her
husband are stable and very happy. I
don’t know the modern etiquette but
would like to buy them a wedding pres-
ent, as would a few other close friends.
We would like to do this to show love,
happiness and joy for them. We don’t
want to pick out patterns or anything
like that without knowing her tastes.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
— Need Assistance in Florida
Dear Need Assistance: Cash
might not be the most fun gift to pick
out, but it’s the one people most like
to receive — especially if they’re
new parents. If you’d like to give a
more traditional gift, such as some-
thing for their home, ask her mother
what sorts of kitchenware they might
like. Whatever the gift, your thought-
fulness will shine through and the
couple will no doubt appreciate it.
Dear Annie: I’m responding to
the letter from “Meaty Mike.” He
needs to embrace his vegan love
mate! I’ve been married to a staunch
vegetarian for over 33 years, and it’s
the best choice I’ve ever made. My
diet has become healthier, and I still
get my meat. I have a gas grill on
the deck outside for my meat meals,
which I use even in the winter. And
I’ve developed recipes to cook meat
without smelling up the house.
Meaty Mike’s guilt trip is his
own, so he should just own it and
move on. — Vermont Meat Mate
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). No matter what
age you are, you’ve the ability to examine the
situation with young eyes. Would you believe
there are some parts of your past that remain
unexamined? This is the perfect use for those
young eyes.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Maybe it’s not
you and never was you. Maybe you’re dealing
with a very flawed system and people who are
either blind to those flaws or are contributing
to them for their own nefarious purposes. Stay
positive. Make the change.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You sometimes
wonder if the other person loves you. Why is it
so important that this person experiences and
expresses love the same way you do? You are
in different places developmentally. One place
is not better than the other.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). It used to be
that when you found a penny on the street, you
picked it up and put it in your pocket, not be-
cause you needed the money, but for the luck
involved. Don’t pass up today’s pennies. Who
couldn’t use a little more luck?
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There are so many
who are sick, starving and downtrodden in the
world. Misery is often as close to you as your
outstretched arm. Is it really fair to be this hap-
py? Well, someone has to be. When it’s your
turn, take it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you knew what
exactly was keeping you stuck, you wouldn’t
be. Pondering won’t help. If this were a physi-
cal issue, you’d wiggle and pull until you could
figure out exactly the sticking point. That’s what
you need to do.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). In many ways
you’re easygoing, though in certain ways you
are absolutely ruthless. For instance, your op-
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
timism about a certain project is unrelenting.
You’re fully invested and nothing can stop you
from seeing it through.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The trouble
with people who make you feel special and
valued and elevated through their praise and
attention is that one can get addicted to the
high. Expect withdrawal pains when the energy
level inevitably dips.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There are
those who only want to interact with you when
you’re ready to do so within the qualifications
they specify. This isn’t as bad as it sounds.
When you’re in compliance, you’re at your best.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). People will
want to know about you. Get ahead of this.
What do you want them to know? “Tell me
about yourself” is a prompt you’d be wise to
have a good response to.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your energy
will likely feel scattered at different points of the
day — and not in a poetic way. Deep breathing,
a short walk or a nutritious meal will bring you
back into clear focus within the hour.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). To make things
more mysterious and magical for the others
you must, ironically, demystify them for yourself.
You’ll figure out the real deal then glamorize,
sensationalize and spin it. That’s entertain-
ment.
THURSDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 11). Your
creative side is thirsty for a shot of great art.
Your spiritual side needs nature. Your sporting
side craves competition. All sides will be satis-
fied with this year’s explorations. As the calen-
dar numbers turn to 2017, your heart will seek
sustenance, provided by old and new friends
alike. Aries and Gemini adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 5, 17, 39, 12 and 42.